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VATICAN CITY — Pope Benedict XVI apparently gave a remarkable homily at Mass today with members of the Pontifical Biblical Commission, speaking about the clerical sex abuse crisis as an opportunity for the church to do real penance. (UPDATE: Full story.)

The pope first referred to a “subtle or not so subtle aggression against the church” as a form of modern conformism “under which it becomes obligatory to think as everyone thinks, to act as everyone acts.” Such conformism can become a dictatorship, he said.

Then he said the “attacks” against the church present an opportunity for purification and transformation through penance.

I must say that we Christians, even in recent times, have often avoided the word ‘penance,’ which seemed too harsh to us. Now, under the attacks of the world that speaks to us of our sins, we see that being able to do penance is a grace and we see how it is necessary to do penance, that is, to recognize what is mistaken in our life, to open oneself to forgiveness, to prepare oneself for forgiveness, to allow oneself to be transformed. The pain of penance, that is to say of purification and of transformation, this pain is grace, because it is renewal, and it is the work of Divine Mercy.

As Vatican officials were still preparing the release of the papal text, Vatican Radio posted the main quotes on its Web site.

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3 Responses

I have been so touched when i read the homily of the Pope. It is true “The pain of penance, that is to say of purification and of transformation, this pain is grace, because it is renewal, and it is the work of Divine Mercy”. My spiritual life will be graced by this challenge i must follow and share with my religiuos bretheren. We pray for you Pope Benedict XVI and we love you. Be consoled by our love for you through the Divine Mercy.

Our Pope is an amazing and humble man. He can only lead those
who will listen and follow. Being a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother I know full well that you can present the truth to those
you love but that doesn’t mean they’ll listen or follow your advice.
Pray for our Holy Father and do penance for our sins and the sins of
the whole world!